Truss construction for automobile frames



Mmm, 1923.

A. KoEHN O TRUSS CONSTRUCTION FOR AUTOMOBILE FRAMES Filed Mar. s, 192i 1 l I I I I I I I I I I I l g rit- Patented Mar. Z7, 1923.

UNETE STATES ALFRED KOEHN, OF JERSEY CITY, JERSEY.

TRUSS CONSTRUCTION FOR AUIIOIVIOIBILE FRAMES.

Application led March 3, 1921; Serial No. 449,493.

T all whom t may concern:

Be 1t known that I, ALFRED lxonHN, citizen I of the United States, and resident of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of 'New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful improvements in rFruss Constructions for Automobile Frames, of vwhich the following is a specication.

The object of this invention is is `provide a simple and effective trussconstruction for use in connection with the longitudinal metal beams of an automobile frame, which construction not only supports the running boards of the vehicle in a stable manner and ltransmits the load thereon uniformly to the frame, but also prevents localization in the beams of the vibration due to the operation of the engine, thus reducing the otherwise liability of crystallization of the metal of the beams.

With this object in view the invention comprises, in an automobile, a truss construction having a brace bar spaced-below the beams and transversely of the vehicle, tie-rods secured to and between the beams and the bar, and struts of novel character secured to and between the bar and the respective beams.

The invention also comprises features of construction which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings- Figure l is a perspective view of a part of an automobile frame equipped with a truss construction embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, enlarged, of one side of the frame and its associated parts.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the strut clamps detached. r

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates the longitudinal beams of an automobile fra-me; 11 designates a transverse brace bar carried below the beams by diagonal tie rods 12 which are secured at their upper ends to the sides of the beams and at their lowerA ends to the end extensions of the bar, and 13 designates running boards supported upon the said extensions. Between the bar and the respective beams are interposed two stout vertical posts or struts 14, each having, in its preferred form, a channeled base portion 15 which is horizontally extended so as to bear upon and embrace a substantial part of the top of the bar, and having also a horizontally-extended head portion 16 which is firmly seated against the bottom of the proximate beam. The base portion 15 is secured to the vbar by means, for {example, of a bolt 17, and the head portion is coupledto the beam by a detachable clamp 18, the connections being such as to ensure A a rigid and firm union ofthe three ass'ociated elements, viz: the beam, the strut and the bracebar.

The clamp, in its preferred form, comprises a metal body having upper and-.lower members 19, 20 which straddle the beam,

ythe upper member bearing upon the top of the beam and the lower member engaging the under side of the strut headv 16. The lower member is rounded, as-at 21, to constitute a gripping jaw, `and the under side ofthe head 16 is appropriately recessed to receive the jaw. The free end of the upper member isprovided with a perforated lug 22 through which and a corresponding lug 23 on the strut head, passes a through bolt 24 in such a manner that the clamp can y be firmly and securely held in place so as to bind the head 16 of the strut to the adjacentr frame beam 10 without the use of rivets or the like. The body and lower member 2Q of theclamp are slotted, as at 25, to permit it to receive and vembrace the upper rod serves as a means to ensure the accurate location of the clamp on the beam.

By the novel truss construction above-described the running boards of an automobile are eifectually supported and the load thereon is uniformly transmitted through the tierods, bar and struts directly to the frame beams. Moreover, the vibration due to the operation of the engine is distributed generally throughout the frame beams and the strut and bar connections; thereby preventing localization of the vibration in, and reducing liability of crystallization of the metal of the beams.

l claim- 1. Inv an automobile, the combination withl the longitudinal lframe beams and the running boards, of a transverse brace bar positioned below said beams and having end extensions upon which the running boards are supported, diagonal tie-rods between the beams and the said extensions, struts inter-` portion of the proximate tie rod 12, which and clam-ping means -detaehably securing the heads of the struts to the adjacent beams, each of the said head portions lia-Ying a clamp seat and a bolt r'lug' at the respective sides of tlie adjacent beam, andeaclli clamping` means comprising a. vertical body Ilocated at one side of the beam, a member overhang-ing tbe beam, and a member underlying vthe beam and engaging the clamp seat of the head portion, together With a vertical bolt located at the opposite .sideoi' the :beam and *connecting the said .overhanging member and bolt lug.

2. In anrautomobile, the Combination with the longitudinal frame beams and the running .lioards, of a transverse brace bar positioned beloii7 said beams and having end eX- tensions upon ninioli. the ,running boards 'are supported, diagonal tie-rods between the beams and the said extensions, struts ,be- -tween the barQand the Arespective beams, said struts havin-g base and diead portions Aseated VVagainst tlie .opnosingsurfaees "of the barand beams, and .Clamps for `the respective 'struts 'and beams, each 'of Asaid clamps vlcomprising la body having upper and lower members Mener which embrace tbe adjacent 4beam and strut bead, and a bolt connecting tbe upper niember and the strut bead 3. 'n an automobile, the. combination with the longitudinal frame beams and the running boards, yof a. transverse brace bar positioned below ysaid bea-ms and having end extensions upon which the running boards are supported, diagonal tierods between the beams and the said extensions, struts between ythe barand the respective beams, said struts having' base and head portions seated against the opposing surfaces of tbe bar and beams, and clamps for the respective struts and beams, each of said clamps comprising4 a body having upper and lower members .Wli'ic'hembraeelgthe adjacent beam and strut bead, and a ibolt connecting the upper meniber and ythe striut bead, the body and lower member of tlieelainln beinle slotted to receive the upper portion of tbe adj aeent tie-rod.

Signed at New York in the county and State of New York this 2d day of March 1921.

ALFRED KoEHN. 

